Electrical connector for use in conductive media



Y. PELISSIER 3,534,310

ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR FOR USE IN CONDUCTIVE MEDIA Filed Aug. 29. 1967 "United States Patent Int. (:1. lion 15/02 US. Cl. 336-83 1 Claim ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An electrical connector for use in liquid media, which connector comprises separable male and female members made of a material having high magnetic permeability, with the outer surface of the male member and the inner surface of the female member carrying conductive coils which are insulated from each other, each coil being connected to the wires of one of two cables which are to be electrically connected, and the male and female members being formed so that the rim of the female member contacts a flange on the male member when the connection is made.

This invention relates to electrical connectors for use in a conductive medium, such as sea water.

The connectors presently used for the connection of sections of conductive cables consist of connectors such as those used on land, the male and female contacts of which have been provided with sealing rings and flaps, so as to prevent their coming into contact with the liquid.

These connectors have certain disadvantages. In particular, the contacts, before being brought together, are bare metallic members in contact with the sea water. The engagement of such contacts is often difiicult, if not impossible.

The present invention eliminates these disadvantages.

The device according to the present invention comprises two symmetrical coaxial members, one male, and the other female, each fastened to a section of conductive cable. The male member consists of a cylindrical core of highly magnetic material provided with an insulating flange mechanically secured to the sheath of a two wire cable. The two conductive wires of the cable are connected to a coil which is insulated from the ambient environment by an insulating assembly made of a synthetic material and secured to said core. The female member, the axis of which coincides with that of the male member when the connection is closed, consists of a cup of highly magnetic material, and an insulating member which mechanically secures the cup to the cable casing, the two conductors of the cable being connected to the ends of a coil insulated from the ambient environment by a synthetic insulating material secured to said cup. The flange carried by the core of the male member and the cup of the female member carry mating frusto-conical abutments through which the inductive field supplied by the coils is closed, without interfering with the magnetic circuit.

According to one characteristic of the invention the components having a high magnetic permeability are made of a material having a low remanance.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the members having a high magnetic permeability and low remanance are made of ferrite.

The characteristics of this arrangement will become apparent from a reading of the following description of one embodiment of the invention, in which reference is made to the accompanying drawing.

3,534,310 Patented Oct. 13, 1970 In this drawing:

FIG. 1 is an axial cross-section showing one embodiment of a connector according to the invention.

FIG. 2 is a view showing the male part of the connector, partially in section.

FIG. 3 shows the female part of the connector.

FIG. 1 shows at 1 a two-wire electrical cable, the sheath of which is indicated by reference numeral 1a. The two ends of the cable are connected to a coil 2 carried by a cylindrical member 3 of high magnetic permeability comprising an end flange and a core. This coil is enclosed within a sealed insulating casing comprising the members 4 and 5 formed from a synthetic resin. A hole 6 through the flange of the member 3 admits the two-wire cable 1. An insulator 7 fastens the end of the cable sheath rigidly to the member 3.

The two-wire cable 8, provided with the sheath 8a is connected in like manner to the coil 9 carried by an insulating assembly comprising the synthetic members 11 and 12. which position the coil against the inner wall of a cylindrical cup 10 made of a material having a high magnetic permeability which insulates it from the marine environment in which the connector is placed. A hole 13 permits the cable 8 to pass freely through the cup 10, while a casing 14 of insulating material encircles the cup 10, the cable 8 and the end of the cable sheath 8a, holding them all together and fastening the cable to the connector. An opening 15 provides communication between the inside of the cup 10 and the outside so that any water entrapped while the male and female members are being connected may flow out. A second passageway 16 serves the same purpose for the chamber containing the core 3.

It will be seen from FIG. 1 that the two members having a high magnetic permeability directly abut each other with nothing between them, so as to provide a continuous magnetic circuit, and that these two members are thereby located coaxially. These connectors may transmit large amounts of power. In circuit closing position they are held together by the passage of current, but once the current has been interrupted they are easy to separate. The con-. centric mounting of the two coils results in little selfinductance.

FIG. 2 shows the conductor cable with its sheath, and the insulator 7 which fastens the sheath to the material of high magnetic permeability, which insulator adheres firmly to the core 3. Reference numeral 2 indicates the coil which is protected by its insulation, carrying reference numeral '5. An internally threaded member 17 encircles the male member and is adapted to be screwed onto the female member. The longitudinal surfaces are all surfaces of revolution so that the lines of force of the magnetic field are symmetrically arranged around the axis of the member 3.

FIG. 3 shows the outside of the female part of the connector according to the invention. 8av indicates the sheathing of the conductor cable, 10 the cup made of a material having a high magnetic permeability, 14 the insulating material surrounding the member 10, the upper edge of which is visible. The member 14 carries external threads 18 onto which the cap 17 of FIG. 2 is screwed.

What is claimed is:

1. An electrical connector for use in liquid media, said connector comprising male and female members having a principal axis of symmetry and made of a material having a high magnetic permeability and low remanence, said male member being formed with a central plug portion carrying at one end a peripheral flange, said female member being formed with a central cavity for receiving said plug portion, and two concentric electrically conductive coils, one attached to the inside of the cavity and the other encircling said plug, insulating means electrically insulating said coils from. each other, said insulating means being in two relatively slidable parts, one of 'which secures one coil to the inside of the cavity, and the other of which secures the other coil to the exterior of the plug, said male member having at each end an insulation-free surface and said female member having at each end a mat ing insulation-free surface positioned to contact the insulation-free surface at the corresponding end of the male member to form a continuous path of low magnetic reluctance extending axially through and encircling the coils carried by said male and female members When said plug is received in said cavity.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,731,993 10/1929 Webster 33683 XR 2,158,613 5/1939 Loughlin 33683 XR 5 2,548,239 4/1951 Ray 336-83 XR 2,608,610 8/1952 Thulin 33 683 XR 3,201,729 8/1965 Blanchi et a1. .0. 33683 2,441,047 5/1948 Wall 3362\O5 XR 10 2,483,815 10/ 1 949 Easton 336-192 XR THOMAS J. KOZMA, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 

